I would argue no. Some students can write faster than they can type, and if you are attending a lecture or seminar with a professor who actually belongs in an auction house, it may be a better option to rely on traditional pen-and-paper rather than netbooks or iPads.

However, technology does have its place within education. Online courses are rising in popularity, lecture notes and PowerPoint slides can be downloaded through the Internet, and students now often have to submit work that has been typed and sent through email.

An infographic provided by Presta has examined this area, and come up with some interesting thoughts on just how students and learning are beginning to merge:

Using a sample of 500 students, 73 percent stated they "could not study" without technology;

70 percent of students now take notes through typing rather than pen and paper;

91 percent use email to communicate with their professors.

If students insist on using iPads, e-readers and netbooks, then it stands to reason that the student market would also increase its spending in this area. According to Presta, students spent approximately $13 billion on electronics in 2009, and this figure has likely increased -- with a gradual shift to digital textbooks that are often cheaper prompting this trend.

The expanding market for mobile applications can also be attributed to the increased use of technology. Apps allow for a wide range of useful tools -- from note taking, flashcards, specialized searches and task lists. When information is available at your fingertips -- from checking a term or calculating your GPA -- it is no wonder students are tempted to buy tablets or smartphones that come equipped with these possibilities.